Fundamental promotion outside UK and Germany

[profile790]

I several topics, the promotion of Pet Shop Boys (in general) and Fundamental (in specific) was discussed. Views about this issue are floating around on this forum. I suggest to merge them into one topic, so that Neil can actually read it. Hi Neil.

Central questions: what are your experiences regarding the promotion of Pet Shop Boys and Fundamental in your country? Are PSB popular in your country? Do people know about their existence? And in case PSB are unpopular, who do you blame?

[profile790]

Copied discussion from other topic:

Fundamental enters the DUTCH album Top 100 at #42 this week. Given the situation in the Netherlands (no promotion and media attention at all, no effort from EMI nor Pet Shop Boys), this is not a bad result.Bilingual made #39 in 1996. I don't have the chart positions for Nightlife and Release available, but I think Fundamental did better than these two albums.

It is really quite strange. Netherlands is sandwiched between Germany and England, two countries where Boys are highly popular. A country is generally more exposed to its neighbours. I would expect Boys would be highly popular in Dutch country but I see it is not the case. Why is this disinterested approach?

The subject is actually worthy enough to be a topic on its own (also see: PSB on cover of Dutch newspaper). I wouldn't use the word disinterested to describe the Dutch attitude towards PSB. I wouldn't use the word unaware. Quite a few people like PSB, but the most-heard remark is: Do they still exist?

I blame the low popularity of PSB in the Netherlands for at least 80 percent to poor promotion. EMI does *not* promote Pet Shop Boys here in any way. The last time I noticed some promotion was in 1996, when they did some ads and radio commercials for Before and Bilingual. I initiated some e-mail contact with EMI, but as soon as I asked about PSB promotion, they never replied anymore... As Neil answered a few years ago: perhaps EMI screw up. - Yes, perhaps they do, but it should be noted that Neil and Chris also don't bother at all.

As said before, their last purely promotional visit to the Netherlands was in 1988. As if the Netherlands is the neighbour country of Australia, rather than Germany where they appear regularly. As if the Netherlands is not next to Belgium, where they perform on a small, hardly-known festival this summer...

It frustrates me deeply, certainly because there's a lot of commercial potential left here, and also because PSB don't care at all. I have to respect their strategy, where they focus on some key countries. But why promote PopArt in Norway then? Why not appear in a Dutch TV programme, or get a Dutch remixer (Tiesto, JunkieXL ?) to remix the next single.

So far for the lack of effort by EMI and PSB. I blame the other 20 percent to negativity among influential DJ's. For instance: an anti PSB-DJ influenced the 3FM playlist for years. But that situation has changed a lot. 3FM already has 2 PSB fans among their DJ team. Some good promotion can beat those criticasters. But I gave up my hope, sorry.

[profile790]

More from the same topic:

Last time I met Neil he said 'You're Irish? They don't like us over there'.

No, actually, they don't know that ye exist anymore because EMI do nothing to promote ye over here either.

Judging from your and my experience, it's about time for PSB to literally kick some asses of national EMI employees. I think it's also rather harsh of Neil to say "they don't like us over there" to a fan. As if that fan can do anything about it. Neil and Chris shouldn't doubt the devotion and support of their fans. They should aim their irritation and anger (if present at all) at EMI !

Believe it or not, but I'm trying my best to promote PSB over here. I wrote e-mails to DJ's on Radio 2 and 3, I started a PSB topic on a big general Dutch discussion forum, my signature links to a website where fragments of Fundamental can be heard, I wrote an extensive positive review, etc, etc. Other fans, like NYET elsewhere on this forum, do the same. But what does it matter, when the record company is lazy?

Comment taken from an other topic:

I would suspect that <<this>> is quite a handy tool for them. Everything that's being said about them on the internet, and most stuff from the press, will pop up on here.

They also get to see how EMI is performing in each country for them. How else would they get that kind of information? EMI is never going to admit that they've been slacking off with promotion.

And even though they never seem to take the fans' advice, at least they can guage what we're thinking about single choices etc. Great spot for catching up with dirty scandalous Neil gossip too

About France:

no promotion planned? <<in>>

http://www.emi-artistes.com/petshopboys/

[profile790]

This topic seems to become the private stats-freak lack of promotion rant, but I *have to* inform you about the following situation.

Two weeks ago, the limited edition of Fundamental was sold out in the Netherlands, and EMI wasn't able to deliver it to record shops who ordered copies. That seems to be solved now, but right now the regular edition is sold out, I heard from a friend who works at a record store.

It's really ridiculous how EMI Holland screw up! They aren't promoting Fundamental in any way, and now it seems that they weren't prepared for this amount of demand. One would almost start to believe that EMI Holland are opposing PSB on purpose.

[Shelton]

interesting to read - thanks Stats-Freak

Yea here in Australia they are not really well known unfortunately,

[Tau]

Not popular here in Croatia,most of the people look at me like I am from Mars when I say their name...no good promotion (no promotion at all,actually)...But they're on 14th place with Fundamental.